The document summarizes an analysis of the energy-water nexus in the Middle East using the TIAM-ECN integrated assessment model. It finds that different electricity generation technologies have large differences in their water withdrawal and consumption requirements. Deploying technologies like CCS, nuclear, and CSP in the Middle East could significantly increase water use by 2050 if once-through cooling is used. However, switching to dry or hybrid cooling could substantially reduce water needs while increasing costs. The study recommends a joint analysis of energy and water policies given the strong interdependencies between the sectors.

1. www.ecn.nl
Exploring the Energy-Water
Nexus: An analysis with TIAM-
ECN for the Middle East
Tom Kober, Bob van der Zwaan, Matthew Halstead
ESTAP Semi-annual workshop
Abu Dhabi
1 June 2015

2. ECN report available
Halstead, M., T. Kober, B. van der Zwaan,
Understanding the Energy-Water Nexus,
ECN Report no. ECN-E-14-046, Sept. 2014,
Petten, The Netherlands.
http://www.ecn.nl/publications/ECN-E--14-046

3. Preamble
• Energy, water and food resource systems are fundamentally
interrelated.
• We need energy to produce essentially all forms of food and to treat
and move water.
• We need water to cultivate food crops and to generate essentially any
form of energy.
• We need food to support the world’s growing population that both
generates and relies on energy and water services.
• Land availability also constitutes an important element in each of these
three resources, e.g. for crop production for food or energy purposes.
• This intricate and variable relationship is since recently referred to as
the “Energy-Water-Food Nexus”.

4. Definitional issues
• ‘Energy-Water Nexus’ is a notion that is not clearly delimited, that is,
different authors or analysts employ different system boundaries.
• This is e.g. evidenced by the fact that some people expand the concept
to ‘Energy-Water-Food Nexus’ or ‘Energy-Water-Food-Climate Nexus’.
• Moreover, ‘The Nexus’ is poorly defined, and interpretations abound on
the type of concerns and challenges (plus opportunities) it covers.
• Also amongst policy makers a wide variety of meanings of ‘The Nexus’
exists, some of which are operational, but others are clearly not.

5. For example
Quite generally, for some analysts it would refer to:
• Mutual linkages between energy and (fresh) water production.
• Interdependence of biomass (land-use) for energy resp. food supply.
• Effects of climate change on power plants and crop yield.
More specifically, for others it would mean:
• Hydropower is subject to water availability and variability.
• Wind turbines can be built on dikes and dams.
• Some biofuel options require lots of water (rain or irrigation).
• Industry is generally a water-intensive sector.

6. Fresh water is the issue
Data sources: Shiklomanov, 1993; UN FAO Aquastat Database; Graedel et al., 2014.

7. Water risks: drought and flooding

8. Water stress
Renewable water resources per year per capita (m3, 2010).
Source: UN WWDR, 2014; UN FAO Aquastat database.

9. Our goal and achievements
• We have made an overview of the existing literature and expertise in
this domain, which encompasses many different aspects.
• We have indicated where the current shortcomings and gaps are in the
knowledge about this subject.
• We have analyzed the water requirements for a broad range of energy
technologies, particularly those relevant for ECN.
• We performed a regional inspection contrasting several scenarios for
energy-water needs in the Middle East against local water availability.

10. Our main focus
• Focus on the water needs for energy supply, i.e. the power sector.
• We thus do not (cannot) go into much detail for a range of other issues.
• These include the environmental impacts from energy on water.
An important distinction needs to be made:
• Water use / requirements: withdrawal versus consumption.
• Water withdrawal: volume of water removed from a source.
• Water consumption: volume of water removed from a source but not
returned to it (e.g. due to evaporation).
• Water discharge: the difference between these two: volume of water
withdrawn that is returned to the source (but typically degraded).

11. Energy technology: water withdrawal
Data source: our literature review.
Not only large differences in water withdrawal levels exist between different types of
electricity generation technologies, but especially between different cooling options.

12. Energy technology: water consumption
Not only large differences in water consumption levels exist between different types of
electricity generation technologies, but especially between different cooling options.
Data source: our literature review.

13. Application: power supply Middle East
What are the water withdrawal and consumption implications of these possible
scenarios, if the same cooling techniques are used for future deployment?

14. Assumptions on cooling technologies

15. Middle East: water withdrawal
By 2050 various CCS options (and nuclear power) become major water withdrawers.

16. Middle East: water consumption
By 2050 CSP technology and various CCS options become major water consumers.

17. Switch in cooling technologies
Suppose once-through and recirculating cooling techniques in the REF case are partly
and gradually replaced by dry and hybrid cooling options, as in the SAVE case.

18. Large water implications
In the long run (but not necessarily in the short run) both water withdrawal and
consumption may be reduced significantly: this comes at a price, but may be economic.

19. Findings and recommendations
• Type of cooling at least as determinant for the water needs of power
production options as the type of energy technology.
• Large uncertainties and many gaps in the literature regarding water use of
different energy technologies.
• Scenario analysis can provide insight in the water implications for regions or
countries of different energy technology deployment paths.
• Water as important as energy supply in some regions; therefore joint
analysis / optimization / policies necessary.
• Integrated Assessment Models useful to assess availability and costs of
water.
• Enhancement of ETSAP-tools to support analysis around the Water-Energy-
Food-Nexus.

20. Thank you!
Tom Kober, Dr.-Ing.
Policy Studies | Global Sustainability
T: +31 88 515 4105 | F: +31 224 56 83 38
Radarweg 60, 1043 NT Amsterdam, The
Netherlands
kober@ecn.nl
http://www.ecn.nl/publications/ECN-E--14-046